Death Toll In Adamawa Terrorist Blast Hits 65
Written by Mohammed Abubakar, Kanayo Umeh , John Okeke (Abuja), Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos) Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) and Emmanuel Ande (Yola)
Nigerian Guardian
The death toll in last Sunday’s bomb blast in Mubi town in Adamawa State may have risen to 65, The Guardian learnt.
However, the Defence Headquarters said that only 18 persons died in the blast contrary to media reports which put the figure at 40 and above.
In a related development, gunmen suspected to Boko Haram members on Sunday attacked a church in Attagara village in Gwoza council of Borno State, killing nine worshippers and torching many houses.
But, in a counter attack, four of the fleeing insurgents were killed by youths in the community.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has denied seeing a new video released by the Boko Haram insurgents, which purportedly showed the abducted school girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok looking unhealthy and begging for their release.
Similarly, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) yesterday expressed outrage at the activities of Boko Haram, saying that their members were a band of criminals who were misrepresenting Islam.
Also, security operatives yesterday averted what would have turned into a bloody clash in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In the same vein, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has ordered an indefinite ban on all protests in Abuja calling for the release of the over 250 girls kidnapped in April from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State by the insurgent group Boko Haram.
According to a Mubi resident, Mr. Robert Audu, who said he lost three of his relations during the blast, told The Guardian that when he visited the Mubi General Hospital, the mortuary was filled with dead bodies.
“I am shocked to hear that some security agents are claiming that only 14 or 16 people died, it is a lie, I went to the hospital myself and the dead bodies I saw on ground alone were more than 40”, he added.
Another resident who identified himself as David Dauda, said he saw corpses litter the ground, stressing, “ I saw over 30 dead bodies in the affected area ,while others were rushed to the hospital.’’
Also, a survivor of the blast, Abubakar Jika, said that the dead bodies he saw loaded in vehicles were more than 40 and that four of his neighbours who were injured died yesterday.
However, when The Guardian contacted the 23 Armour Brigade Yola Army Public Relations Officer, Captain Nuhu Jafaru, to confirm the number of the casualties yesterday, he said, ”I am not in Mubi, call the Brigade Commander, he is in Mubi.”
The blast came less than 48 hours after a letter purportedly written by suspected members of the Boko Haram threatening to attack the Adamawa State University (ADSU) Mubi was discovered.
As a fallout of the Mubi blast and the rumoured threat to attack some parts of Yola, the state capital, the police yesterday beefed up security in the metropolis.
Attagara is a border village with Cameroun and 129 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to an eyewitness, Hamba Wisso, some armed men stormed a local church at Attagara village and opened fire on worshippers while the Sunday service was going on at about 9.30 a.m.
“Nine people were killed in the church, while the community youths mobilised and killed four of the attackers, and eight others fled on motorcycles towards Kughum, a border village with Cameroun,” said a police source involved in the on going operations at Sambisa Forest.
Speaking to journalists yesterday in Abuja, Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade also denied knowledge of any negotiation between the Federal Government and the insurgents.
Olukolade also confirmed the attack in Mubi town in Adamawa State, adding that a suspect in the attack was apprehended by security agents.
According to Olukolade, the attack at a bar and football viewing centre in Mubi resulted in the death of 18 persons with 19 others injured.
He said the injured are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, as investigations to determine the culprit in the bombing are ongoing.
He added that ongoing air and land surveillance by security agencies has resulted in the killing of five terrorists in Biu and Kauri in Benue State.
Reacting to reports of military operations by the Camerounian forces, which led to the death of 40 suspected members of Boko Haram sect, who crossed over the border, Olukolade insisted that only the Camerounian authorities can confirm or deny such report.
He, however, added that countries in the West Africa are still collaboration in the war against terrorists.
Responding to a question on the terror suspect, Sadiq Ogwuche, who is one of the masterminds in the Nyanya bombing, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mbah said the paper work for his return to Nigeria was almost complete.
The Secretary-General of OIC, Eyad Ameen Madani, who led a delegation from the 57-member organisation on a condolence visit to President Goodluck Jonathan over the several deaths and destruction caused by Boko Haram activities in Nigeria, said the activities of the sect was in sharp contrast to the teachings, philosophy and ideals of Islam.
Speaking with State House correspondents after his closed door meeting with Jonathan, Madani, a former Hajj Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia, said the activities of Boko Haram had no place in Islam and should be clearly seen for what it is, a criminal activity, that were simply misrepresenting Islam.
He added: “We are also here to express our solidarity with Nigeria in facing up to this terrorist organisation and to condemn the terrorist act they have been committing, and to show our condolences to the Nigerians and to the families of those who were affected.
“The OIC has issued statements that we are very clear, that these people are outlaws, what they do is a criminal act, it has absolutely nothing to do with Islam, Islamic teachings, the history, the culture, the civilisation of Islam and we should identify them for what they are as a terrorists group.
“So we listened to the President and we offered what OIC could do in terms of expressing its support, its willingness to be actively involved in facing up to this terrorists group.
Asked to specify in specific terms, what form of support the OIC was planning for Nigeria, Madani said such crises were multi dimensional and needed to be tackled as such.
“We are willing to, if Nigerian government would allow us to, convene an inter-faith dialogue, because we feel that there is a lot to be said about these claims, and to show the many aspects of similarities and living together between not only Christians and Muslims but between all faiths and convictions.
“Africa, we keep saying, is a model of such tolerance, its history is a history of tolerance, of living together and that African tradition has done thing that needs to stay and this is where the principles of OIC position is.”
Besides, he said the OIC, through its different organs could be available to the request of the Nigerian government in any way it can do to help out alleviate the social and economic conditions in any area where these elements may operate
Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali, who accompanied the delegation, expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the OIC for its support, noting that it showed the organisation was ever willing to come to the aid of member states.
Trouble began when some youths in Bukuru took to the streets over a dead body discovered yesterday morning in their area.
A resident of the area, who simply called himself Dadut, told journalists, “we were at home when we saw a group of youths armed with sticks and other dangerous weapons, who started protesting, and we the youths in our area had to come together quickly prevent them from attacking us.”
He further said it took the intervention of the men of the Special Task Force (STF) deployed to restore law and order in the area.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Felicia Anslem, said that there were skirmishes around the locality in the morning but they had been put under control.
Also speaking to journalists, the STF’s spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the development, but said no life was lost.
Confirming the ban order to The Guardian, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Altine Daniel said , as directed by the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Joseph Mbu, “protest on the Chibok girls is hereby banned with immediate effect”
In an address to the media yesterday , the CP said the decision was taken to forestall any security breach that might occur as two different groups have emerged on the same mission, causing heavy concentration of people in one place, thereby exposing themselves to terrorist attack.
But reacting to the ban, a leader of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Oby Ezekwesili told CNN yesterday that it was obviously the handiwork of an overzealous police commissioner which is contrary to Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
“As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness. Information reaching us is that soon, dangerous elements may join the groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosives aimed at embarrassing the government”, Mbu said
The Police chief who said he was part of the protest at the beginning noted that since a new group emerged and started the same protest it “has degenerated to the extent that they are now selling and cooking at the Unity Fountain. The trend is now posing a serious security threat to those living around and citizens who drive through.”
“They are still unrelenting; the group has now shifted to Maitama Amusement Park. This area is very close to the residence of diplomats.”
He, therefore, urged Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the security operatives in their efforts in the fight against terrorists
Also, human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo in a statement described the ban, as “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. It is against the spirit and letters of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. All the above guarantee freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.”
 |
| Nigerian women bearing the brunt of insurgency in the northeast. |
Nigerian Guardian
The death toll in last Sunday’s bomb blast in Mubi town in Adamawa State may have risen to 65, The Guardian learnt.
However, the Defence Headquarters said that only 18 persons died in the blast contrary to media reports which put the figure at 40 and above.
In a related development, gunmen suspected to Boko Haram members on Sunday attacked a church in Attagara village in Gwoza council of Borno State, killing nine worshippers and torching many houses.
But, in a counter attack, four of the fleeing insurgents were killed by youths in the community.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has denied seeing a new video released by the Boko Haram insurgents, which purportedly showed the abducted school girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok looking unhealthy and begging for their release.
Similarly, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) yesterday expressed outrage at the activities of Boko Haram, saying that their members were a band of criminals who were misrepresenting Islam.
Also, security operatives yesterday averted what would have turned into a bloody clash in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In the same vein, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has ordered an indefinite ban on all protests in Abuja calling for the release of the over 250 girls kidnapped in April from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State by the insurgent group Boko Haram.
According to a Mubi resident, Mr. Robert Audu, who said he lost three of his relations during the blast, told The Guardian that when he visited the Mubi General Hospital, the mortuary was filled with dead bodies.
“I am shocked to hear that some security agents are claiming that only 14 or 16 people died, it is a lie, I went to the hospital myself and the dead bodies I saw on ground alone were more than 40”, he added.
Another resident who identified himself as David Dauda, said he saw corpses litter the ground, stressing, “ I saw over 30 dead bodies in the affected area ,while others were rushed to the hospital.’’
Also, a survivor of the blast, Abubakar Jika, said that the dead bodies he saw loaded in vehicles were more than 40 and that four of his neighbours who were injured died yesterday.
However, when The Guardian contacted the 23 Armour Brigade Yola Army Public Relations Officer, Captain Nuhu Jafaru, to confirm the number of the casualties yesterday, he said, ”I am not in Mubi, call the Brigade Commander, he is in Mubi.”
The blast came less than 48 hours after a letter purportedly written by suspected members of the Boko Haram threatening to attack the Adamawa State University (ADSU) Mubi was discovered.
As a fallout of the Mubi blast and the rumoured threat to attack some parts of Yola, the state capital, the police yesterday beefed up security in the metropolis.
Attagara is a border village with Cameroun and 129 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to an eyewitness, Hamba Wisso, some armed men stormed a local church at Attagara village and opened fire on worshippers while the Sunday service was going on at about 9.30 a.m.
“Nine people were killed in the church, while the community youths mobilised and killed four of the attackers, and eight others fled on motorcycles towards Kughum, a border village with Cameroun,” said a police source involved in the on going operations at Sambisa Forest.
Speaking to journalists yesterday in Abuja, Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade also denied knowledge of any negotiation between the Federal Government and the insurgents.
Olukolade also confirmed the attack in Mubi town in Adamawa State, adding that a suspect in the attack was apprehended by security agents.
According to Olukolade, the attack at a bar and football viewing centre in Mubi resulted in the death of 18 persons with 19 others injured.
He said the injured are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, as investigations to determine the culprit in the bombing are ongoing.
He added that ongoing air and land surveillance by security agencies has resulted in the killing of five terrorists in Biu and Kauri in Benue State.
Reacting to reports of military operations by the Camerounian forces, which led to the death of 40 suspected members of Boko Haram sect, who crossed over the border, Olukolade insisted that only the Camerounian authorities can confirm or deny such report.
He, however, added that countries in the West Africa are still collaboration in the war against terrorists.
Responding to a question on the terror suspect, Sadiq Ogwuche, who is one of the masterminds in the Nyanya bombing, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mbah said the paper work for his return to Nigeria was almost complete.
The Secretary-General of OIC, Eyad Ameen Madani, who led a delegation from the 57-member organisation on a condolence visit to President Goodluck Jonathan over the several deaths and destruction caused by Boko Haram activities in Nigeria, said the activities of the sect was in sharp contrast to the teachings, philosophy and ideals of Islam.
Speaking with State House correspondents after his closed door meeting with Jonathan, Madani, a former Hajj Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia, said the activities of Boko Haram had no place in Islam and should be clearly seen for what it is, a criminal activity, that were simply misrepresenting Islam.
He added: “We are also here to express our solidarity with Nigeria in facing up to this terrorist organisation and to condemn the terrorist act they have been committing, and to show our condolences to the Nigerians and to the families of those who were affected.
“The OIC has issued statements that we are very clear, that these people are outlaws, what they do is a criminal act, it has absolutely nothing to do with Islam, Islamic teachings, the history, the culture, the civilisation of Islam and we should identify them for what they are as a terrorists group.
“So we listened to the President and we offered what OIC could do in terms of expressing its support, its willingness to be actively involved in facing up to this terrorists group.
Asked to specify in specific terms, what form of support the OIC was planning for Nigeria, Madani said such crises were multi dimensional and needed to be tackled as such.
“We are willing to, if Nigerian government would allow us to, convene an inter-faith dialogue, because we feel that there is a lot to be said about these claims, and to show the many aspects of similarities and living together between not only Christians and Muslims but between all faiths and convictions.
“Africa, we keep saying, is a model of such tolerance, its history is a history of tolerance, of living together and that African tradition has done thing that needs to stay and this is where the principles of OIC position is.”
Besides, he said the OIC, through its different organs could be available to the request of the Nigerian government in any way it can do to help out alleviate the social and economic conditions in any area where these elements may operate
Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali, who accompanied the delegation, expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the OIC for its support, noting that it showed the organisation was ever willing to come to the aid of member states.
Trouble began when some youths in Bukuru took to the streets over a dead body discovered yesterday morning in their area.
A resident of the area, who simply called himself Dadut, told journalists, “we were at home when we saw a group of youths armed with sticks and other dangerous weapons, who started protesting, and we the youths in our area had to come together quickly prevent them from attacking us.”
He further said it took the intervention of the men of the Special Task Force (STF) deployed to restore law and order in the area.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Felicia Anslem, said that there were skirmishes around the locality in the morning but they had been put under control.
Also speaking to journalists, the STF’s spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the development, but said no life was lost.
Confirming the ban order to The Guardian, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Altine Daniel said , as directed by the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Joseph Mbu, “protest on the Chibok girls is hereby banned with immediate effect”
In an address to the media yesterday , the CP said the decision was taken to forestall any security breach that might occur as two different groups have emerged on the same mission, causing heavy concentration of people in one place, thereby exposing themselves to terrorist attack.
But reacting to the ban, a leader of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Oby Ezekwesili told CNN yesterday that it was obviously the handiwork of an overzealous police commissioner which is contrary to Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
“As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness. Information reaching us is that soon, dangerous elements may join the groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosives aimed at embarrassing the government”, Mbu said
The Police chief who said he was part of the protest at the beginning noted that since a new group emerged and started the same protest it “has degenerated to the extent that they are now selling and cooking at the Unity Fountain. The trend is now posing a serious security threat to those living around and citizens who drive through.”
“They are still unrelenting; the group has now shifted to Maitama Amusement Park. This area is very close to the residence of diplomats.”
He, therefore, urged Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the security operatives in their efforts in the fight against terrorists
Also, human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo in a statement described the ban, as “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. It is against the spirit and letters of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. All the above guarantee freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.”
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